Nollywood's Esther Okereke: Humanitarian Efforts Drive Presidential Ambition

Esther Okereke, a prominent figure in Nollywood and the presidential flag bearer for the National Rescue Movement (NRM), has recently defended her political credentials. She firmly asserted that her candidacy transcends mere celebrity status, emphasizing her deep, firsthand understanding of the struggles faced by average Nigerians. Okereke highlighted that her extensive humanitarian work, particularly her initiatives supporting widows, orphans, and individuals with disabilities, has provided her with direct insight into the realities of life at the grassroots. This exposure, she explained, has solidified her determination to pursue political power to effectively tackle the nation's myriad problems. "I am not just an actress. I am a humanitarian in politics, I would say that," Okereke stated. "I run foundations that cater to the widows, orphans, and those living with disabilities. I have single-handedly run my foundations without any support from anywhere." She further added, "I’m a grassroots candidate. I know the problems of the grassroots. I know what Nigeria is suffering from, and that’s why I have the ESTHER agenda."

Okereke revealed that her decision to contest for the presidency stemmed from a growing exasperation with Nigeria's persistent challenges. This frustration, she noted, eventually evolved into a profound sense of purpose and a fervent desire to rectify systemic issues from within the government. She contended that her experience providing aid to vulnerable citizens has demonstrated that grassroots communities are not demanding excessive provisions, but merely seeking access to fundamental amenities and an improved quality of life. "It got to that point where it became frustrating because it was affecting my businesses, as if I was using my business to run charity," she explained. "Then frustration grew into anger, anger into pity, pity into purpose. And what is the purpose? Why would I just sit here trying to help a group of people when I can actually do better from up there? Because if the system is working from up there, I won’t have to be doing this alone." She elaborated on her personal connection to these issues: "That’s because I also trod the road. I drive the road which the grassroots use. The same road, the same epileptic electricity, the same pitiable education, standard of education. I know all of this because I’ve been there and I’m still in it. Being in it makes me competent. It does! Because when I know what my problem is, I would know how to solve my problem. As a grassroots candidate, I know what the grassroots is lacking. It’s just basic amenities; the grassroots is not even asking for too much."

Regarding her strategy for ensuring stable electricity across Nigeria, Okereke asserted that the country already possesses the necessary professional expertise to overhaul the power sector. She maintained that these experts only require the appropriate mandate and backing to achieve tangible results. "That’s why we have the advisors. That’s why we have the professionals, that’s their duty," she remarked. "You call the shots when you’re up there. Because I know how we can actually achieve it: by getting the right people that do it to do it. And we have the right people, it’s just to give the go-ahead." Okereke also outlined her projected path to electoral success, stating that her strongest support base would emanate from the grassroots, anchored by her six-pillar "ESTHER Agenda," which she characterized as a "people’s manifesto." She detailed the agenda: "My strongest support will come from the grassroots. What Esther has is the ESTHER Agenda—that’s the six-pillar manifesto, the people’s manifesto: E for Economic Development, Energy, Education, and Economic Renaissance; S for Security, Social Development, and Sustainable Development; T for Technology Transformation and Transparency; H for Housing, Health."

When asked about her administration's primary economic focus if elected, the NRM candidate declared that tackling Nigeria’s persistent power crisis would be paramount. She argued that a reliable electricity supply would not only resolve the power issue but also illuminate and enable the resolution of other complex challenges, including insecurity. Okereke committed to achieving a significant target of 25,000 megawatts within her initial 100 days in office. Her approach would involve leveraging renewable energy sources and promoting decentralized power generation, while simultaneously combating corruption and vested interests within the sector. "First is to take out the darkness in the system, because when you take out the darkness, you can see," she explained. "Then you secure the system with security. Fix electricity by taking out the darkness so you can see the security issues and tackle them. In 100 days, we should achieve 25,000 megawatts. It is very possible." She questioned the obstacles: "What is actually stopping us from doing it when we know we can do it? That’s corruption. That’s one thing we should fight against: corruption. Because somebody has their own personal interest in a particular thing, so they make sure it doesn’t work. We can make it work if we want it to work. If as the president, you are the minister for energy and I give you 100 days to give me power, and you have sworn to the people that you would do this before you were put in that office, if you can’t do it, you step down so that somebody else that can do it will do it. What is holding us, stopping us, restraining us, if not personal interest?", she challenged.

Addressing Nigeria’s substantial debt and revenue generation hurdles, Okereke indicated that her administration would focus on streamlining government operations by eliminating redundant parastatals, agencies, and ministries. She also pledged to recover misappropriated public funds.